What is the mean distance between the surface of Saturn and the first ring? What is the mean outer diameter of the Saturn ring system?
The mean distance from Saturn to the outer edge of the F ring is 2.33 Saturn radii, or 140,270 km (87,160 miles). The mean distance between the surface of Saturn and the first ring (we use the inner B ring) is 1.52 Saturn radii or 92,000 km (about 57,000 miles). To make your own model of Saturn and its rings, cut a 1.5-inch Styrofoam ball in half, and glue each half to opposite sides of a CD. That gives you pretty accurate proportions. Two differences: Saturn’s rings don’t actually touch the planet, and the CD is too thick. To get that proportion right, you’d need a single sheet of paper about 3 km (2 miles) in diameter and a much larger Styrofoam ball. For a gallery of stunning images of Saturn and its rings, go to http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/multimedia/images/rings/index.
The mean distance from Saturn to the outer edge of the F ring is 2.33 Saturn radii, or 140,270 km (87,160 miles). The mean distance between the surface of Saturn and the first ring (we use the inner B ring) is 1.52 Saturn radii or 92,000 km (about 57,000 miles). To make your own model of Saturn and its rings, cut a 1.5-inch Styrofoam ball in half, and glue each half to opposite sides of a CD. That gives you pretty accurate proportions. Two differences: Saturn’s rings don’t actually touch the planet, and the CD is too thick. To get that proportion right, you’d need a single sheet of paper about 3 km (2 miles) in diameter and a much larger Styrofoam ball.
